Youth demand a future in Tottenham

On 4 October there will be a protest outside a meeting of the cabinet of Haringey council as part of the ongoing campaign to save youth services in the borough. Young people warned the council of the effects of closing eight out of 13 youth clubs as part of recent cuts.

The August riots started in Tottenham, an area of Haringey, and since then Youth Fight for Jobs has been campaigning with local people for all of these clubs to be reopened.

The protest will take place at 5.30pm outside the Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, London N22 8LE. Below is an interview with a young person in Tottenham on the 'Give Our Kids A Future' demonstration that took place in the immediate aftermath.

What do you think of the riots?

Riots: rioters and police in Tottenham during August 2011 disturbances, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

I think if you're going to forget about a generation, you're going to raise university fees, you're going to take away EMA, there's no jobs... young people don't have a voice.

People are frustrated that there's no money in the community. The government talk about 'greed', that it was 'pure greed'. Is it not greed of the government and politicians that's the reason why we're in the recession in the first place? If the kids see that in the government there's greed and criminality, considering the hacking scandal, how can they talk about criminality?

Cameron has directly attacked the community here, calling it a 'sick community'. What do you think about that?

He doesn't live our lives. His life is pampered, he doesn't know what it's like to live out here. Look at this place! It's not exactly the Ritz is it?

All these riots happened in the poor areas, where there's high unemployment. When this was going on he was on holiday. Half of those kids can't even afford to go on holiday! Come down to where we live, live our lives and then tell me if the community is sick or not.

What do you think should change?

There needs to be investment, there needs to be education. People need to know that if they get an education there will be jobs for them. We want investment in things to give people opportunities so that people can get jobs. That way, instead of looting the shops they can afford to go into the shops and buy things!

The politicians need to come out of parliament and talk to the people that took part. Don't just label them, come out and find out why this has happened.

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